One of my favorite things about Las Vegas is that no matter where you are, you can pretty much always see the Strip. It feels like magic to spot casino rooftops peeking over suburbia, or to view the spire of the Stratosphere from a Downtown backyard. The Strip is everywhere. And it’s always a joyous sight.
The tragic shooting on October 1 threatened to change my feelings about our city’s landmarks. For a week afterward, I’d physically shudder anytime a casino came into view. But if “Vegas Strong” meant anything at all, it meant that I couldn’t hide. So when some foodie friends organized a gathering at Mandalay Bay, I faced my fears and went.
Re-visiting Mandalay Bay felt like being at two places at once. There was the place of my imagined memory: a place of terror and flight. And then there was the place that I saw with my eyes. This was a Mandalay Bay that looked as golden and glitzy as it always had. The biggest difference: Digital signs cycled through #VegasStrong messages instead of advertisements. That seemed refreshing, in a way. The usual stream of conventioneers—with badges and light-up novelty glasses—might have been slightly more somber than usual, but their enjoyment was still evident.
That’s another great thing about Vegas: Every week brings a fresh start. Today’s tourists resemble yesterday’s, but they’re a whole new batch of arrivals, complete with unbridled optimism. Whenever we’re feeling low, we can tap into their excitement and remember why we live in the Entertainment Capital of the World—because it’s fun!
I enjoyed delicious short-rib tacos and cocktails at Stripsteak, and by the time I’d eaten eight flavors of ice cream at Rx Boiler Room, any remaining reservations had melted away.
While I’ll never forget the events of October 1, I refuse to look at the Strip with fear. A little of the old joy has returned, and day by day, that feeling will grow as the dark memories recede. For those who haven’t been back yet, being there could help, too—to start the process of healing by supporting our neighbors in the resort industry, who haven’t stopped going to work there each day.
